litchfield



L. L. LITCHFIELD. LETTER SEALING PRESS- APPLICATION FILED OCT- 5| I9I7- RENEWED NOV- I; I919.

- Patented Dec. 23,1919.

- trolled arms.

STATEQ PATENT OFFIGi LEWIS L. LITCHFIELD, OF SCAR/B030, MAINE.

LETTER-SEALING PRESS.

Application filed. October 5, 1917, Serial No. 194,837.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwis L. LITCHFIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at i'lcarboro, in the county of Cumberland and Eltate of Maine, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Letter-Sealing Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in letter sealing presses. In sealing envelops it is customary to moisten the gummed surface of the sealing flap with a brush and, then with the hand press the 'flap upon the body of the envelop. The object of the present invention is to provide means whereby a bunch of envelops. which have had the, gummed sealing surfaces moistened may all be sealed at the same time. Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby a perfect sealing of the envelops is secured. By the same act and at the same time the stamp will be securely fixed to the envelop avoiding any loss of stamps.

In the drawing herewith accompanying and forming a part of this application Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved device and Fig. 2 is an end view of the de vice shown in o eration.

The same re 'erence characters indicate likeparts in theseveral figures.

In said drawings 1 and 2 are spring con- TO the adjacent insides of the ends of said arms are secured two press members 3 and 4-, the member 4 being pivotally attached to arm 1. Preferably the un- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

Renewed November 1, 1919. Serial Nd. 335,150.

derside of arm 1 is countersunk, as seen at 5, to receive member 4, member 4 being pivotally mounted on arm 1 in any convenient manner. As shown it is supported by a pivot pin 6 mounted in bearings 7 secured to the outside of member 4-. The sealing surfaces of the envelope are inclined from points at or near the edge inwardly, and it is important that the pressure be distributed over the entire sealin surface and this is accomplished by my improved method of pivotally mounting member 4:, the pressure beino' uniform at all points in the press members which should be Wide enough to include the entire sealing surface of the flap. A spring 8 is interposed between arms 1 and 2 in such manner as to tend constantly to press members 3 and 4 together. In use it is only necessary to moisten the gummed surfaces of the envelope and apply the stamp, then insert the bunch of envelops 9 between the press members and leave them for a short time.

I claim:

In a device of the character described, spring controlled arms, press members secured to said arms and transversely relative thereto, one of said arms being recessed on its inside and one of said press members being located in said recess and pivotally secured to said arm, whereby the two members are brought to a uniform bearing in all positions when the spring is free to act.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

LEWIS L. LITOHFIELD. 

